Paper towel dispenser



Dec. 5, 1933. J. P. HUMMEL PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER Filed Sept. 26. 1932 wir INVENTR. BYWZOZMWWM@ ATTORNEYeS'Y Patented Dec. 5, 1933 1,937,960 v PAPER TOWEL DISBENSER John P. Hummel, Hopewell, Va.

Application September 26, 1932 Serial No. 634,842

This invention relates to improvements in paper towel dispensers.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a cardboard or fiberboard carton or package for a pack .of paper towels which will not only serve as the original package for the towels for shipment and sales purposes, but which will also function as a dispenser for the towels as they are required for use.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a paper towel package and dispenser wherein access to the housed towels is `gained through the outward fieXing of a pair of flaps, and the individual towels being withdrawable from the dispenser through the opening controlled by the flaps in alternate directions, and in a manner so that upon the withdrawal of a sheet, the succeeding sheet is brought to an exposed positionto facilitate its withdrawal. s

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of the class described formed to position the partially withdrawn sheets to facilitate grasping them preparatory to their complete withdrawal, and to permit the opening togthe container being sufficiently protected and shielded at all times, the container being so inexpensive, however, as Vto permit its'being destroyed when all the sheets have been used up.

A further object of the invention'is to provide adispensing Acontainer for paper towels having a reenforced wall portion formed with slots therethrough whereby the container slots may be en- Ygagecl with lugs or screws for mounting on a wall or support, and by reason of the formation of the slots in areenforced portion of the container, likelihood of the slots being torn or ,distorted during the normal use of the container, is minimized.Y l f A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing carton for toweling formed and folded from a one-piece blank of cardboard, berboard, or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper towel dispenser which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, is neat and attractive, and is well adapted for the purposesl set forth.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists of the improved paper towel dispenser, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof. In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the Views:

Fig. l is a plan view of the blank from which the improved dispensingv carton is folded;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the dispensing carton on a larger scale, part being broken away and in section to show constructional details;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on line A3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken online 4,-4 of Fig. 2; Y

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the individual paper towels-in the relationship in which they are disposed within .the Container: l -v Fig. 6 is an end .view of the'carton `embodying an alternative arrangement of the carton end flap means; and v Y Fig. 'l is a sectional view taken on line 'I-'l of Fig. 6. Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the blank 8 from which the improvedl dispensing carton is fashioned, is of one-piece and is generally of rectangular form. Said one-piece sheetis composed of cardboard, fiber-board, or a similar inexpensive flexible material. The blank 8 includes a rear'wall portion 9, a bottom portion 10, a front portion 11, a top 12, and a topl rear reenforcing flap 13,k all separated from one another by longitudinal scored or fold lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 respectively. -Foldably attached to each end of the rear 9 are inner end the flaps 18, are foldably attached to the ends of the front 11. .Top and bottom end flaps 20 and 21 are foldably joined to the respective ends of the top 12 and bottom 1i).A The flaps 18, 21, 19 and 20 are separated from one anotherby slits 22. y

The front portion 11 is formed with a .pair of spaced. apart, longitudinal scored-lines 23 and 24 which are spaced from and parallel Withthe pensing carton, the bottom l0 is folded at :rightangles to the rear portion 9, and the front 11 is folded atright angles to the bottom. Likewise, the top 12 is folded at right angles to the front so as to meet the free edge of the rear 12, and the 85 flaps 18, and similar flaps 19, adapted to overlie top rear reenforcing ap 13 is folded so as to be overlapped by the upper portion of the rear, and said overlapped portions are then glued or otherwise caused to adhere. It will be noted that the upper edge portion of the rear has a pair of securing screw openings 29 therethrough, and similar openings 30 in the flap 13 register therewith. Due to the double thickness of stock caused by the underlapping flap 13 with the openings through both thicknesses, said openings are reenforced and will not readily tear out. y

When the carton is folded as above, it can', if

desired, be flattened out for storageor trans-y portation. When a carton is to be filled it is, however, in the form previously mentioned, with the ends open. The improved dispensing carton is intended to hold a stack or pile of individual kraft paper towels and the stack of towels, indicated generally by the numeral 31, is packed". into thecarton throughone end, and occupies the interior of thecarton, as in Fig. 3. The carton ends Vmay then be closed and secured, and this is accomplished by folding in the flaps 20 and 21, after which the iiaps 18 are folded in, and the flaps 19" are'last folded against the naps 18 and are glued or otherwise secured thereto. The complete, lled dispensing carton is then ready for sale and use, and inasmuch as the front flaps 27 and28 have not at that stage been bentor flexed outwardly, the front of the carton is closed and protected. While it has been mentioned that the front flaps 27 and 28 are defined by slits 24 and 26, weakenedor perforated lines may bekformed in lieu thereof which may be broken through by the user, so that untill said lines are broken through, the carton is completely closed and sealed. y

The arrangement of the end flaps has been described, but' it is contemplated that thealternative arrangement disclosed in Figs.y 6 and 7 may be used. In this form theV flaps 1.8V of the principal form are ornitted, 'an'd the outer iiaps 19 are provided at their outer edges with right angulartuck-in naps 32 which engage inner surfaces of the carton portions 13 adjacent side edge portions of the flaps 2'0 and 21. v

The manner in u which the individual towel sheets Aare arranged in a` stack is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5. Each sheet 33 is folded medially and, except for the first and last pegs which are engaged in the recesses 29-30,

and in this manner the carton is properly hung.

When access to the towels within the container is desired the front flaps 27 and 28 are flexed or bent outwardly, as in Fig. 3, and then the outermost sheet is pulled out of the opening exposed by the flaps 27 and 28. By the act of removing this sheet the free edge of the next sheet, directed in the opposite direction, is pulled partially through the opening so as to be easily grasped when required. During the act of removing the individual sheets, they are pulled against edge of surface portions of the flaps 27 and 28 which act as guides.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the improved dispensing carton is formed in a simple manner from a one-piece blank which, before being filled, can be in a knock-down condition for convenience in storage. When lled, the carton: serves originally as a package for the towels, and then is used by the purchaserras a convenient dispensing container which can be discarded when the contents are exhausted. `The front flaps when in normal position closev and protect the interior of the carton, while when they are bent outwardly they serve as guides Afacilitating the removal of the towels. The entire cartonis strong, isA easily mounted on a support, and the support' engaging portion is reenforced. Also, the improved paper towel dispenser is of simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What' is" claimed as the invention is:

li. A dispensing carton, comprising a one-piece blank foldable into a geometric form to' provide a container of rectangular form in cross section, I..

the frontl wall of theV container having a flap underlapping an edge portion of the rear wall and secured thereto to provide a reenforced area, there being openings formed in said reenforced area, the front wall having a dispensing opening therein extending longitudinally of said wall, and a pair of exible flaps'controlling said dispensing opening.

2. A dispensing carton, comprising a one-piece blank foldable into a geometric form to provide a container of rectangular form incro'ss section', a wall of the container having a ap underlapping an edge portion of another wall and secured thereto to provide a reinforced area, there being openings formedy in said reinforced area, the front face of the container having formed thereon ay pair of spaced fold lines extending the length of said face and transverse weakened' lines at the ends of said face and joining the ends of the fold lines, and a longitudinal weakened line intermediate the fold lines, all of said weakenedY lines being severableto define a pair of closure flaps foldable outwardly on said fold lines to afford access to the interior of the carton.

`JOHN P. HUMMEL.

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